State guide
How to become a public adjuster in Iowa
Iowa requires a public adjuster license. Fees are capped at 15% of insurer-approved claim payments; in a declared emergency 10% for catastrophic-disaster claims; the surety bond is $50,000; the governing law is Iowa Code ch. 522C (bond § 522C.7; fees § 522C.10).
The pathway
Getting licensed in Iowa
The license is the Public Adjuster license (Iowa Code ch. 522C). It is its own license, so make sure any course or exam you book is the public adjuster one and not the company or independent adjuster version. Iowa Insurance Division (IID). Since SF 619 (effective July 1, 2025) chapter 522C licenses public adjusters and independent adjusters (staff adjuster license optional) under one chapter with separate license types and exams. Bulletin 25-08 was rescinded by Bulletin 26-02 (May 29, 2026); current rules are amended Iowa Admin. Code 191-55 (ARC 0308D, effective May 5, 2026) and HF 2582.
Official sources
- Iowa Insurance Division - Adjusters (application, exam vendor, CE, renewal)
- Iowa Insurance Division - Fingerprinting and criminal history checks (Fieldprint fees)
- Iowa Code ch. 522C - Licensing of Adjusters (522C.5A resident, 522C.5B nonresident, 522C.6 fees, 522C.7 bond)
- Iowa Admin. Code 191-55 - Public adjuster licensing rules (55.5 eligibility, 55.9 term/renewal, 55.11 CE, 55.20 fees)
- IID Bulletin 25-04 - Initial implementation of SF 619 (bond increase to $50,000)
- IID Bulletin 26-02 - Rescission of Bulletin 25-08 (ARC 0308D, HF 2582)
- Pearson VUE Iowa Insurance Division Candidate Handbook (exam codes, length, $44 fee)
Gathered from these sources on August 28, 2026. Fees and hours change with the legislative calendar, and this page may be out of date. The regulator’s own page is the only current authority.
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Schedule and pass the Iowa Public Adjusters exam at Pearson VUE ($44, 1 hour). No pre-licensing course is required.
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Schedule fingerprinting with Fieldprint using your IID Fieldprint Code and National Producer Number ($34.35 in Iowa).
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Buy a $50,000 surety bond from an insurer authorized to write surety in Iowa.
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Prepare your customer contract form for Commissioner approval and complete the public adjuster checklist and attestation.
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Apply through NIPR.com, pay the $50 two-year license fee, and upload the bond, contract, and checklist.
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Renew every 2 years by the end of your birth month through NIPR for $50 after completing 24 CE credits, including 2 in ethics.
- Who can apply
- At least 18 years old · Residents and non-residents Residents must designate Iowa as home state, maintain an office available by reasonable appointment or regular business hours, and pass the exam. Nonresidents must be licensed as a resident adjuster in good standing in their home state and either pass the Iowa exam or have passed an exam in their resident/designated home state.
- Prelicensing course
- Not required Neither the IID adjusters page, Iowa Code 522C, nor rule 191-55 imposes pre-licensing education for public adjusters.
- State exam
- Pearson VUE · 60 minutes · $44 per attempt Exam results are transferred electronically to NIPR within 3 business days. A combined Public Adjuster & Appraiser exam (12-IA-26, 2 hours, $44) is also offered. Exam waived for applicants licensed by exam in another state (191-55.7).
- Application
- NIPR · $50 application fee Pearson VUE exam $44; rule 191-55.20(2) states a $50 criminal history check fee; Fieldprint charges $36.35 at non-Iowa sites. Apply through NIPR with evidence of financial responsibility (surety bond from an Iowa-authorized surety), the customer contract form for Commissioner approval, and the public adjuster checklist/attestation. License fee is $50 for a two-year term (191-55.20(3)).
- Background check
- Fingerprint-based criminal history check for resident applicants (191-55.4(2); Iowa Code 522B.5A) through Fieldprint: $34.35 at Iowa sites, $36.35 outside Iowa. Not required if the current resident state's department already completed a state and national check. Fingerprint fee $34.35
- Surety bond
- $50,000 Minimum $50,000 surety bond in favor of the State, issued by an insurer authorized to write surety in Iowa, maintained for the duration of the license (Iowa Code 522C.7, as amended by SF 619; raised from $20,000 effective July 1, 2025 per Bulletin 25-04).
- Renewal
- Every 2 years · $50 Individual license term runs from the first day of the licensee's birth month to the last day of the birth month two years later; renew through NIPR before expiration (191-55.9(2), (7)). IID's page says to complete renewal within 60 days of expiration. Expired licenses may be reinstated within 12 months on proof of CE and payment of the $50 reinstatement fee plus the renewal fee; renewals must include a copy of the contract form to be used (191-55.9(7)(g)).
- Continuing education
- 24 hours · Every 2 years · 2 in ethics 24 credits including 2 ethics credits per two-year term; a credit is 50 minutes (191-55.11). Nonresidents meeting reciprocal home-state CE are exempt. Approved courses are listed via Sircon/NAIC SBS.
- Already licensed elsewhere?
- Reciprocity available Nonresident license for public adjusters licensed as residents in good standing in a home state that reciprocates with Iowa (191-55.8); exam exemption available with attestation.
Not stated in these sources
These points were not stated in the sources listed, so we have left them blank rather than guess. Ask the regulator directly:
- ·Exam questions: Pearson VUE Iowa handbook lists the exam length (1 hour) and fee but the question count was not stated in the text we checked.
- ·Exam passing score: Not located in the Pearson VUE Iowa handbook text we checked.
- ·Application fingerprint fee: IID's fingerprinting page lists Fieldprint's $34.35 fee, while rule 191-55.20(2) still states a $50 criminal history check fee; both are reported.
Iowa in the reference tables
Each table answers one question for all 50 states and DC, with the citation. Open one and find the Iowa row.
- Additional Living Expenses (ALE) & Loss of Use Reference Guide
- Appraisal Demand Deadlines & Requirements
- Assignment of Benefits (AOB) Restrictions
- Bad Faith Framework
- Common Endorsements Reference Guide
- Cosmetic Damage Exclusion Rules
- Depreciation & ACV Calculation Rules
- Depreciation Schedules by Category
- Examination Under Oath (EUO) Requirements
- FAIR Plans & Wind Pools
- Fire Insurance Claims Reference Guide
- Hurricane & Named Storm Deductible Rules
- NFIP Flood Insurance Claims Requirements
- Notice of Claim Filing Deadlines
- Penalty Interest Rates & Remedies
- Pre-Suit Notice Requirements
- Proof of Loss Requirements
- Property Insurance Claims Timelines
- Public Adjuster Licensing & Fee Caps
- Statute of Limitations (SOL)
- Valued Policy Laws
- Wind vs. Water Causation & Anti-Concurrent Causation Rules
- Window Insurance Claims Reference Guide
Iowa law in the library
47 primary-source documents for Iowa: statutes, regulations, bulletins and consumer guides, stored as published. Sign in to open them.
- Iowa Admin. Code 191—Chapter 15, Division II — Claims Iowa Insurance Division
- Iowa Admin. Code 191—Chapter 15, Division II — Claims (official PDF) Iowa Insurance Division
- Iowa Admin. Code 191—Chapter 20, Division II — Iowa FAIR Plan Act Binding law
- Iowa Admin. Code 191—Chapter 20, Division II — Iowa FAIR Plan Act (official PDF) Binding law
- Iowa Admin. Code ch. 191—55 — Licensing of Public Adjusters Iowa Insurance Division
- Iowa Admin. Code ch. 191—55 — Licensing of Public Adjusters (official PDF) Iowa Insurance Division
- Iowa Code Chapter 507B — Insurance Trade Practices Iowa State Legislature
- Iowa Code Chapter 507B — Insurance Trade Practices (official PDF) Iowa State Legislature